Socioeconomic development and the Baháʼí Faith


Since its inception the Baháʼí Faith has had involvement in socioeconomic development beginning by giving greater freedom to women, promulgating the promotion of female education as a priority concern, and that involvement was given practical expression by creating schools, agricultural coops, and clinics. Current development activities worldwide are related to areas such as education, health, agriculture, arts and media, the local economy and the advancement of women. By 2017 there were an estimated 40,000 small scale projects, 1,400 sustained projects, and 135 Baháʼí inspired organizations.

Historical development

The accelerated growth of the worldwide community in the 1960s-1980s expanded it with a large number of poor, illiterate villagers and tribal peoples in India, Africa and South America, which meant an enormous challenge for the social and economic development of communities. According to the Baháʼí teachings, development should increase people's self-reliance, communal solidarity, giving access to knowledge, and, where possible, removing sources of injustice. Spiritual, moral and material development should be linked together. These priorities are envisioned as crucial to the development of world peace.
The religion entered a new phase of activity when a message of the Universal House of Justice dated 20 October 1983 was released. The Office of Social and Economic Development was established and Baháʼís were urged to seek out ways, compatible with the Baháʼí teachings, in which they could become involved in the social and economic development of the communities in which they lived. Worldwide in 1979 there were 129 officially recognized Baháʼí socioeconomic development projects. By 1987, the number of officially recognized development projects had increased to 1482.
In time with the release of the Universal House of Justice's release of its statement The Promise of World Peace, it also sent a letter of all national assemblies to specify goals for the community for the International Year of Peace. These goals included sponsoring activities about the theme of peace which is a priority of the religion: to engage the attention of people to relevant topics related to peace and the unity of humanity.

Current situation

The Baháʼís around the world are currently being encouraged to focus on capacity building through activities such as spiritual education of children, a youth empowerment program, study circles, and devotional gatherings. For most of these activities, material developed by the Ruhi Institute is used. Initiatives of social action include activities in areas like health, sanitation, education, gender equality, arts and media, agriculture, and the environment. Educational projects include schools, which range from village tutorial schools to large secondary schools, and some universities.

Statistics

In November 1986, the Baha'i department of statistics released the following summary of projects accomplished:
ProgramsWorldAfricaAmericasAsiaAustralasiaEurope
Education 732169115427138
Health and social services7828142529
Radio stations505000
Agriculture and forestry7435132051
Community development3586026612713
Total12472924134842731

In April 2018, the Baháʼí Office of Social and Economic Development released the following conservative estimates, based on provided by national Baháʼí institutions.
Baháʼí Development Activities Worldwide19962001200620112017
Activities of fixed duration>1,300>2,400>7,000>18,000>40,000
Sustained projects>250>500>650>1,100>1,400
Baháʼí inspired organizations396283118135

Some particular examples

Some larger scale examples are: